Combination handle and hand lever for screwdrivers

ABSTRACT

A handle and hand lever for screwdrivers comprises an elongated handle body having a semi-cylindrical lever pivotably mounted thereto for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle. The lever is movable between a closed position wherein a magnet mounted within the handle engages and releasably holds the lever against or adjacent to the handle, and an open position wherein said lever is extended outwardly substantially perpendicular to the handle. In the open condition, the lever may be utilized to exert torsional force about the handle axis.

United States Patent [1 1 Carriker 51 Feb. 4, 1975 [76] Inventor: Roy I. Carriker, 95 E. Ice Harbor Dr., Pasco, Wash. 99301 [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,230

[52] US. Cl 145/50 R, 81/177 E, 145/61 L [51] Int. Cl. B25b 15/02, B25g l/OO [58] Field of Search 145/61 L, 50 R; 81/73, 81/177 E, 177 ST, 177.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,559,097 10/1925 Hill 145/61 L 1,835,943 12/1931 I-Ioss 145/61 L UX 2,482,348 9/1949 Land 145/61 L X 3,604,486 9/1971 Henry 145/50 R D111,907 10/1938 LaRue 145/61 L X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 450,204 8/1948 Canada 145/61 L 579,494 3/1924 France 145/61 L Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Marc R. Davidson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wells, St. John & Roberts [57] ABSTRACT A handle and hand lever for screwdrivers comprises an elongated handle body having a semi-cylindrical lever pivotably mounted thereto for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle. The lever is movable between a closed position wherein a magnet mounted within the handle engages and releasably holds the lever against or adjacent to the handle, and an open position wherein said lever is extended outwardly substantially perpendicular to the handle. In the open condition, the lever may be utilized to exert torsional force about the handle axls.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures COMBINATION HANDLE AND HAND LEVER FOR SCREWDRIVERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present apparatus relates to apparatus for applying torsional force to a screwdriver bit, and more particularly to such a device having a handle with an axis coaxial with the screwdriver shank and a lever connected to the handle and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

The need for a screwdriver including means by which hand leverage or mechanical torsional leverage may be applied to it is well known. This need is realized to some degree by U.S. Pat. No. l,559,097 to Hill that discloses a lever pivoted on a handle about an axis perpendicular and offset from the axis of the screwdriver shank. A lever-type screwdriver is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 142,982 and Canadian Pat. No. 450,204 to Bloomfield wherein a handle body mounts a coaxial screwdriver shank and also includes a lever portion pivotably mounted to the handle. U.S. patent granted to O. W. Dawson. No. 2,635,660 discloses a pivotable handgrip lever that is semi-circular in cross section and extends more then half the circumference of a handle body in order to grip the handle in a closed position under spring tension. U.S. Pat. No. 456,300 to E. Dawson discloses a screwdriver having a pivotable lever wherein the pivot for the lever is spaced from the handle end of the shaft as in the Hill screwdriver.

The present invention is comprised of a handle body having a continuous semi-cylindrical surface extending longitudinally along one side of a handle axis and a lever pivotably mounted to the handle about a transverse pivot axis perpendicular to the handle axis. The lever includes a concave inner surface complementary in configuration to the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface of the handle that enables the lever to fit in closed position adjacent the peripheral surface of the handle so as to become an integral portion of the handle body as a unit. The lever is pivotable about the pivot axis from the described closed position to an open position wherein the lever is located in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the handle. A magnet is provided within the handle body tosecure the lever to the handle in the closed position. The magnet is mounted within the handle to exert a force against the lever to pull it toward the handle body. This force is directed inwardly, perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A combination handle and hand lever for a screwdriver is disclosed comprising an elongated handle body formed of an electrically non-conductive material. The handle body includes a continuous semicylindrical peripheral surface that extends between ends of the handle along one side of a central longitudinal handle axis. A hand grip surface is provided along the remaining handle surface on the other side of the axis. The handle body further includes socket means at one end thereof for rigidly mounting a screwdriver shank coaxial with the handle axis. A semi-cylindrical magnetic metal lever is pivotably mounted to the bandle for free pivotal movement about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to and intersects the handle axis. The lever includes a concave inner surface formed about a lever axis that is complementary to the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface of the handle. The lever further includes a convex outer peripheral surface concentric to the inner surface. An abutment surface is included on the lever that is radially spaced from the pivot axis. The lever is pivotable between: (a) a closed position with the concave inner surface being located adjacent to and partially overlapping the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface of the handle and with the lever axis and handle axis coaxial; and (b) an open position wherein the abutment surface is engaged with the semicylindrical peripheral surface of the handle and lever axis is substantially perpendicular to the handle axis. Magnet means is provided adjacent a remaining end of the handle in order to releasably secure the lever to the side of the handle when in the closed position.

It is a first object of my invention to provide a combination handle and hand lever for a screwdriver that easily facilitates additional manual application of torsion about the screwdriver axis.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus that is electrically insulated from the screwdriver shank mounted thereto and thereby prevents dangerous electrical shock to the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus with means for releasably securing the lever to the handle in a closed position to thereby enhance storage, portability, and safe usage of the screwdriver.

These and other objects and advantages will become evident upon reading the following description which, taken with the accompanying drawings disclose a preferred form of the present invention.

A BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the handle with a screwdriver shank mounted thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectioned view taken substantially along line 33 in FlG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred form of my invention comprises a handle body, designated by the reference numeral 10, and a lever 11 pivotably mounted to the handle body. The handle body includes an end 16 having a socket 18 as means for mounting a screwdriver shank 17. Normally, such screwdriver shanks are formed integrally with the handle 10, the handle being formed of a synthetic resin that is poured or cast about the outward end of the shank l7. Handle 10 is constructed of a synthetic resin or other appropriate material that is electrically nonconductive. Such materials are well known in the screwdriver art.

Lever 11, as shown in the drawings, is comprised of a concave inner surface 26 that is complementary in configuration to the peripheral surface 22 of handle body 10. A convex outer surface 27 of the lever 11 is outwardly concentric to concave surface 26.

The lever 11 is pivotably mounted to the handle body by a wrist pin or rivet 28 that defines pivot axis for lever 11. Rivet 28 extends through an aperture in handle body 10 and is connected on diametrically opposed sides of the handle body to a forked end 30 of lever ll. As may be noted in FIG. 3, rivet 28 is spaced longitudinally from the end of socket l8 and the end of screwdriver shank 17. This positioning electrically insulates lever 11 from shank 17.

An abutment surface 33 is provided adjacent the forked end 30 of lever 11 to abut the peripheral surface 22 of handle body 10 once the lever 11 is pivoted to an open position. Such an open position is illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 1. A closed position is also illustrated in the drawings and is designated therein by solid lines in FIGS. 1-3. In the closed position, the lever axis is substantially coaxial with the handle axis and concave surface 26 lies parallel to and closely adjacent the peripheral surface 22 of handle body 10.

Means is provided for releasably securing lever 11 to handle body 10. Such means is provided in the form of a magnet 34 affixed to the handle body 10 adjacent the upper end thereof. Magnet 34 is illustrated as being eylindrical in configuration but it is not the intention of this disclosure to restrict its shape as such. A primary feature, however, of magnet 34 in its directional relationship to the axis of rivet 28. Magnet 34 is located within handle body 10 to exert a pulling force against the lever that is substantially directionally perpendicular to the axis of rivet 28. Such positioning of magnet 34 enables optimum holding force between handle body 10 and lever 11. The magnetic strength of magnet 34 is intended to be sufficient to hold the lever in the closed position under the weight of the lever.

It may be noted in the drawing, especially in FIG. 2 that the sides of lever 11 do not extend more than 180 about the periphery of handle body 10. This provision does not necessitate frictional gripping of the handle body by the lever and therefore enables the lever to be constructed of substantially heavy material. This feature is important in that such an addition of material strengthens the lever 10 and therefore enables substantial torsional force to be applied thereto about the axis of the handle body 10.

It may have become obvious from the above description and attached drawing that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the intended scope of my invention. Therefore, only the following claims are to be taken as definitions of this invention.

What I claim is:

l. A combination handle and hand lever for a screwdriver comprising:

an elongated handle body of electrically nonconductive material having a continuous semicylindrical peripheral surface extending between ends of said handle along one side of a central longitudinal handle axis and a hand-grip surface extending along the remaining handle surface on the other side of said axis;

socket means at one end of said handle for rigidly mounting a screwdriver shank coaxially with said handle axis;

a semi-cylindrical lever of magnetic metal pivotably mounted to the handle for free pivotal movement about a pivot axis perpendicular to and intersecting the handle axis and having a concave inner surface formed about a lever axis complementary to the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface of the handle and a convex outer peripheral surface concentric to the inner surface;

an abutment surface on the lever radially spaced from the pivot axis;

whereby the lever is pivotable to a closed position wherein the concave inner surface is located adjacent to and partially overlapping the semicylindrical peripheral surface of the handle with the lever axis and handle axis coaxial, and to an open position wherein the abutment surface is pivoted to engage the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface and the lever axis is substantially perpendicular to the handle axis; and

magnet means adjacent a remaining end of the handle for releasably securing the lever in the closed position:

said pivot axis being defined by a wrist pin extending through a complementary aperture in the handle body at a location thereon clear of the socket means to thereby electrically insulate the lever from a screwdriver shank.

l l =l= 

1. A combination handle and hand lever for a screwdriver comprising: an elongated handle body of electrically non-conductive material having a continuous semi-cylindrical peripheral surface extending between ends of said handle along one side of a central longitudinal handle axis and a hand-grip surface extending along the remaining handle surface on the other side of said axis; socket means at one end of said handle for rigidly mounting a screwdriver shank coaxially with said handle axis; a semi-cylindrical lever of magnetic metal pivotably mounted to the handle for free pivotal movement about a pivot axis perpendicular to and intersecting the handle axis and having a concave inner surface formed about a lever axis complementary to the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface of the handle and a convex outer peripheral surface concentric to the inner surface; an abutment surface on the lever radially spaced from the pivot axis; whereby the lever is pivotable to a closed position wherein the concave inner surface is located adjacent to and partially overlapping the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface of the handle with the lever axis and handle axis coaxial, and to an open position wherein the abutment surface is pivoted to engage the semi-cylindrical peripheral surface and the lever axis is substantially perpendicular to the handle axis; and magnet means adjacent a remaining end of the handle for releasably securing the lever in the closed position: said pivot axis being defined by a wrist pin extending through a complementary aperture in the handle body at a location thereon clear of the socket means to thereby electrically insulate the lever from a screwdriver shank. 